The cargo boat 'Walcheren' anchored at Cape Thevenard jetty.

Thevenard provides a deep sea port for the Far West Coast of Eyre Peninsula. When it was decided that such a port would be necessary the captains of the trading vessels were asked for their opinion on which bay would be most suitable. Government Engineer John Labatt was asked also to investigate the question. He favoured Cape Thevenard, near Ceduna - taking into account the ease of dredging for the deeper channel that would be required as ships increasingly grew in size. He was supported by George Kermode, Engineer in charge of Ports and Harbors, Victoria. Once the decision was made the contract for the harbour facilities was given to Stone and Siddeley Ltd.

They completed the jetty in 1920 after some difficulties. It was however the first concrete jetty in South Australia: 341 metres long, with a head 158 metres long and 11.3 metres wide. SS Walcheren was the first ship to use the new jetty. A steel screw steamer of 3598 tons Walcheren was built in 1917 in Rotterdam and operated out of that port.

In the early 1960s bulk handling facilities were built which included a conveyor system to ease the burden and speed the loading process.

Collins, Neville C The jetties of South Australia: past and present Woodside, S.A.: Neville Collins, 2005

Faull, Jim Life on the edge: the Far West Coast of South Australia Ceduna, S. Aust.: The District Council of Murat Bay, 1988

Parsons, Ronald, Southern passages: a maritime history of South Australia Netley, S. Aust.: Wakefield Press, 1986

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. Wooden Walls and Iron Sides August 2004-